Drug ring in Hot Springs busted

On Thursday, March 10, deputies and detectives from the Sanders County Sheriff's Office along with tribal officers and Hot Springs Police Department officers made three arrests in the town of Hot Springs.  The arrests were part of the culmination of an eight month long undercover investigation by the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, Hot Springs Police Department, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation Agents and members of the Northwest Drug Task Force. Detective Doug Dryden of the Sanders County Sheriff's Office had requested help from Northwest Drug Task Force officers early in 2010 to help with the investigation.

Another indiviual from the Hot Springs area was arrested earlier in February by Detective Dryden, DCI Agents, HSPD Officers and members of the Northwest Drug Task Force. A fifth person was arrested in Flathead County on Friday, March 11th by DCI Agents and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

During the course of the investigation, DCI and NWDTF Agents purchased marijuana, prescription drugs and cocaine from individuals in Hot Springs.  In addition to the undercover investigation, four additional residents of Hot Springs have been arrested, charged and convicted of drug crimes including fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs, forgery, possession of prescription drugs, heroin, morphine and cocaine for a total of ten successful drug cases in the past year by the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, DCI, NWDTF, HSPD, and the SOuth Dakota Highway Patrol.